Vics stay in contest as debutant leads fightback

Victoria’s subsequent era of younger skill have staged a exceptional fightback to stay searching for an not likely victory at the ultimate day in their Marsh Sheffield Defend conflict with Tasmania on the MCG.

Son-of-a-gun Sam Elliott compiled a composed 80 now not out on firstclass debut and veteran tweaker Jon Holland and Sam Harper every hit part centuries because the Vics set Tasmania 238 to win.

And the hosts have been neatly within the contest when Will Sutherland (2-28) brushed aside the harmful Matthew Wade for 35 as Tasmania slipped to 3-63, with openers Caleb Jewell (6) and Tim Ward (20) additionally falling affordably.

Jordan Silk (36) and Ben McDermott steadied the send with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket ahead of Holland once more breathed existence again into the competition along with his first wicket of the fit, disposing of the Tassie skipper overdue within the day.

McDermott (46no) and Jake Doran (5no) noticed Tasmania safely to 4-151 at stumps, putting in a captivating ultimate day with the guests nonetheless requiring 87 runs to win and Victoria six wickets to open their Defend account for 2022-23.

Picked for his fast-bowling credentials, Elliott, who was once introduced his Victorian cap through father and state legend Matthew on day one, proved he’s no mug with the bat both as he and Harper put Tasmania’s skilled bowling assault below drive for the primary time within the fit.

The Tigers misplaced evergreen seamer Peter Siddle ahead of the primary ball of day 3 after he injured his ankle all the way through the warm-up, with fellow veteran Jackson Chook – who was once close to unplayable around the opening two days – missing the similar penetration as he was once compelled to shoulder lots of the workload.

With the hosts resuming day 3 at 7-162 with a lead of 63 runs, Tasmania would have had hopes of wrapping up their 2d win of the season through the lunch spoil.

However Elliott, who claimed 3 wickets within the first innings, had different concepts as he channelled his dad’s magnificence on the crease, including some other part century to head along with his 3 in Victorian Premier Cricket.

The 22-year-old right-hander struck 8 barriers in a knock of serious significance for his aspect, as he and Harper placed on 84 runs for the 8th wicket, permitting Victoria to get well from the threshold of defeat to a preventing likelihood of salvaging a consequence.

The Victorian wicketkeeper’s 94-ball 57 took him to 263 runs for the Defend season, which on the midway mark of the summer time, is already his ideal go back in any of his 8 seasons of firstclass cricket.

It allowed Holland to return out and loose his fingers for the outset, smacking his first two balls from Webster immediately again previous the Tassie allrounder to the rope on the Shane Warne Stand finish.

The 35-year-old, who had simplest handed 50 as soon as in his 14-year profession till these days, persisted to swing exhausting during his 50-ball keep, launching Jarrod Freeman into the seats of the similar stand now not lengthy after he had beaten Webster for 3 consecutive fours.

He stepped forward to only his 2d part century in any layout with two tough moves down the bottom off Chook, whose 4-54 in the second one innings took him to sensational fit figures of 8-67.

Holland equalled his profession ideal rating of 55 when he feathered an inside of edge thru to wicketkeeper Jake Doran off the bowling of Nathan Ellis (2-100), telling cricket.com.au after play he could not recall ever hitting the ball as blank as he did these days.

“To present ourselves a possibility to set them a goal and feature a possibility to get 10 wickets, if you happen to had’ve stated we have been going to be right here on the finish of the day … I’d have taken it,” he stated.

“I assumed with the brand new ball so shut … the most productive alternative to get runs was once ahead of that got here so I simply stated to Sammy (Elliott) I will have a move and it got here off these days.

“I would not say I have been hitting numerous balls, however I have accomplished a little bit bit of labor with (assistant trainer) Ben Rohrer and it sort of feels to be paying off.”

Elliott was once then left stranded 20 wanting a century on debut with No.11 Cameron McClure failing to get off the mark as Victoria have been bowled out simply after lunch for 336.

It was once a exceptional turnaround for the hosts once they have been skittled for 121 at the opening day as Tasmania took a 99-run lead into the second one innings, and at 4-77 overdue on day two nonetheless 22 runs at the back of they seemed destined for his or her 2d immediately defeat till Elliott and Harper intervened.